Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-29

tor Payne was due at Mrs. Howard's
and of.he went, upon the wings Of the
wind, expecting that Bessie would cer-
tainly meet him in the hal, or at least
contrive to see him alone.
He was really disapp pointed when he
found the whole family together as usu-
81. Bessie looked up at him as brisk
II and frankly as ever with wonderful
frankness, he thought, all things
considered. He himself was conscious
of blushing fearfully. His hair and
complexion were light, and he was sure
that his face was all in g blaze. How.
ever, he could not possibly leave her
without saying something for her pri-
yste ear. ss ssss v Z
Thank you thousand times for your
kind answer, " he managed to say in .
whisper, for he observed Jack coming
dangerously near. and ne was aware
that little pitchers had very long ears. q
.s"'What, sir 2" said Bessie, looking
straight up at him in the most innocent
way. 5% $sss:s5 a. NJ. s.. Il rs Z s5seEs
Doctor Payne's ardor was perceptibIy
quenched; but he was obliged to say
something. g. 49, s< stt I 4
2 For your kind answer tc my letter, =
he continued, coming q little nearer.
letter." said Bessie. beginning to
feel quite uncomfortable. Il have not
seen any letter."
81 The doctor was completely. taken
aback. He did not know what to think.
He stood speechless, staring at Bessie,
who did not know which way to look.
They might have stood there Tor ever
but for Jack. Beth took it." said
he. "Beth said it was her letter"
"'Twas mine!" said Beth stoutly. My
names Elizabeth, and she was only kis-
sened Bessie" :.. .,s ~
4 First the doctor stared-as if he
hadn't done staring enough already
aud then he shouted. No other word
will express it; he fairly shouted with
laughter. He laughed till he could no
longer stand up, and then he sat down
and laughed. He shook, he choked.
So undignified spectacle as Doctor
Payne made of himself is seldom seen.
It was too funny he simply could not
help himself.
In the intervals between two parox.
ysms Of laughter he took tho remarka-
bic epistle which he had received out
of his pocket, next his heart,
where he had placed it hastily,
as the most precious thing which
he possessed. With a shaking hand
he passed it over to Grandmother How
ard, and then leaned back in his chair
and laughed again as if lie could not
stop.
Grandmother Howard read it, and
stared, too, as wildly as the doctor had
done. Then she, too, began to laugh.
She was every bit as bad as the doctor.
She laughed till the tears ran down.
All this time Bessie was completely
in the dark. She considered the doc
tors behaviour unaccountable, and was
much inclined to be offended. She
perceived that those dreadful children
had been doing something really hor-
rid but she could not make out what it
was. However, she was prepared for
anything on their part.
At length Grandmamma Howard re-
covered herself sufficiently to put the
AoIteI IutO DeSS1o s lap, una 10 sweep I'll
the children before her out of the room,
with gentle imperative way she had
which not even these young rebels
could resist. -
She left Doctor Payne to explain the
matter and appease Bessie's displeasure.
And it is to be hoped that he succeeded,
since renewed shouts of laughter wers
soon heard issuing from the room, in
which Bessie's voice was clearly to be
distinguished. =" +:
Doctor Payne was married to Bessie
the next winter, but he made it a matter
of positive agreement that acne of these
children. should ever stay home more
than week at time in his house, and
openly declared thath did SO in the hope
of saving Bessie's life, to say nothing Of
his own. He was sometimes heard to
declare that during that week he was
obliged to keep q special fire brigade
on duty, and some times to apply for a
small detachment Of police, but Bessie
considers this needless exaggeration
where truth itself is bad enough.